Door and operating structure therefor



1960 T. B. THURMAN 2,947,355

DOOR AND OPERATING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR.

Tandy B. Thurman.

ATTORNEZS.

Aug. 2, 19 "r. a. THURMAN 2,947,355

DOOR AND OPERATING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. e, 1956 4 She ets-Sheet 2 w -11 II 8 Q E Q 3 a i "I I IN V EN TOR Tandy B Thurman ATTORNEYS.

Aug. 1960 T. a. THURMAN ,DOORVAND OPERATING STRUCTURE THEREFOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Nov. 6, 1956 INVENTOR.

dy B. Thurman WMM k R k 3 ATTORNEMS.

1950 T. B. THURMAN 2,947,355

DOOR AND OPERATING STRUCTURE THEREFOR Filed Nov. 6, 1956 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 VINVENTOR. BY Tandy 5. 772urman.

United States Patent Tandy B. Thurman, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Ellis Saunders and Robert W. Saunders, both of Kansas City, M0.

Filed Nov. 6, 1956, Set. N6. 620,651 Claims. or. 160-491) This invention relates to doors for closing openings in buildings, vehicles and the like, and more particularly to doors and cooperating structure wherein the doors are folded upwardly in a defined path and the weight of the door is suitably counter-balanced for facilitating opening and closing same.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a novel garage or like door having hinged sections movable to fold the door at the upper portion of the doorway wherein only the lower section need be changed for accommodating a variety of heights of doorways; to provide such a door and operating structure applying substantially equal raising force on both sides of the door; to provide such a structure wherein the raising force is applied through flexible members which automatically equalizes the tension and force applied thereby; to provide such a door structure with a spring arranged relat ve to a rotary member to apply a moment of force tending to lift the door wherein during raising movement the spring tension lessens, but the line of action of the forces is changed and the moment of force increased holding the door up after it is raised; to provide such a folding door structure with a spring-loaded lever and flexible connections with the door which increases the lifting force exerted thereon after the door is partially raised; to provide such a door structure that is adjustable to maintain suitable alignment of the various parts and balancing of forces for assuring ease of operation; to provide such a folding door structure that is substantially weathertight; and to provide a positive operating folding door structure of relatively few parts that is economical to manufacture, easy to install and efficient in operation.

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevation of a door embodying the features of the present invention in doorway closing position from inside the structure having the doorway.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the door and operating structure in raised position with portions of the doorway frame broken away to illustrate the structure thereof.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the door and operating structure.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view through thedooron the line 4-4, Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal sectional view through the side of the door and frame on the line 5-5, Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion of the doorway frame at the side of the door on the line 66, Fig. 3.

Fig. 7 is a partial perspective view of the operating structure.

Fig. 8 is a partial perspective view of the door operating frame.

' Fig. 9 is a partial perspective view at one end of the header of the door.

'8 and 17 when in doorway closing position.

2,947,355 Patented Aug. 2, 1960 ice Fig. 10 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line 10-10, Fig. 9.

Fig. 11-is a partial elevational view of a modified form of door operator.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

1 designates a building or like structure having a door opening 2 defined by spaced upright doorway side posts 3 and 4 and a horizontal header 5 suitably connected to the upper portions of the posts 3 and 4. The structure 1 may be a building such as a garage or a vehicle body with the walls thereof arranged and connected with the posts 3 and 4 and header 5 in the usual or conventional manner. In the illustrated structure, a floor 6 forms the bottom or sill of the doorway opening, however, it is obvious that any form of conventional sill may be utilized. While the door posts 3 and 4 and the header 5 are illustrated as being built in the structure 1 to frame the door opening, it is believed obvious that the structure could have rough framing and the door posts 3 and 4 and the header 5 be provided as a prefabricated framing to be set in the rough framing of the structure 1.

A sectional door 7 of suitable size and shape to close the doorway opening 2 includes an upper section 8 having its upper edge portion 9 swingingly connected by a plurality of spaced hinges 10 to a bar 11 suitably secured on the inside surface 12 of the header 5. The bar 11 is preferably substantially the same thickness as the door section 8 with the lower edge 13 of the bar 11 spaced above the lower edge 14 of the header 5 whereby the upper edge portion of the door section 8 will overlap the lower portion of the header 5 and the door section 8 be in vertical alignment with the bar 11 when in closed door section hinges inwardly in the structure 1.

The upper door section 8 is preferably of a height less than one-half the total height of the doorway opening,

and in the illustrated structure, it is approximately onethird the total height, and the lower section 17 is of such height that it, together with the upper section 8 fills the space from the lower surface 13 of the bar 11 to the floor 6. The lower surface 18 of the door section 8 and upper surface 19 of the door section 17 have a substantially corresponding inclination which when in closed position slopes inwardly and upwardly relative to the structure 1 to retard movement of rain or the like through the joint between the door sections. The sections 8 and 17 are hingedly connected by hinge members 29 having plates 21 suitably secured to the faces 18 and 19 of the door sections by suitable fastening devices 22- whereby the hinge pins 23 are adjacent the outer surfaces of the door sections 8 and 17 and when the door sections are raised to open position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4, the lower section 17 is positioned under the section 8 and extends outwardly through the door opening. The hinge plates 21 are preferably recessed into the faces 18 and 19 to obtain substantial engagement of said faces when the door sections are in doorway closing position, and to further prevent rain or the like from entering the structure a Weatherstrip 24 is suitably secured, to the lower inner face 1 60f the door section 8 whereby a portion engages the ripper inside face of the door section 17 to substantially form a seal.

Guide tracks 25 and 26 are arranged on the side posts 3 and 4 and extend vertically thereof preferably substantially in alignment with the sides of the door sections The guide tracks may be formed in an integral portion of the door side posts 3 and 4, however, in the illustrated structure the guide tracks are preferably formed of metal bent to define a vertical channel 27 that faces toward the door sections with the side of the channel adjacent the posts having a flange 28 suitably secured to the respective post by suitable fastening devices 29, the width of the door sections 8 and 17 being such relative to the spacing between the door posts and thickness of the flange 28 whereby the lower section 17 will swing through the doorway opening with the side edges of the door section in close proximity to the door posts and/ or flanges 28. The guide tracks 25 and 26 being separate from the door posts 3 and 4 permits the guide tracks to be adjusted with shims or the like whereby the guide tracks are substantially vertical and parallel to maintain ease of operation of the doors.

Members in the form of guide rollers 30 are rotatably supported on the side edges of the lower door section 17 whereby said rollers 30 are positioned in the channels 27 of the guide tracks 25 and 26 with the axis of the rollers spaced from the hinge pins 23 a distance substantially corresponding to the height of the door section 8 plus one-half of the thickness of the door sections whereby the rollers 30 are in the channels 27 when the door sections are folded as shown in Fig. 4. In order to provide a Weather seal at the sides of the door sections, fiat weather strips 31 are suitably secured to the inner faces 16 of the door section 8 by fastening devices 32 whereby the strips 31 extend from the door sections and overlap the guide tracks 25 and 26 in sealing engagement therewith, the weather strips 31 being substantially coextensive with the height of the door section 8. Similar weather strips 33 are suitably secured by fastening devices 34 to the inner face of the door section 17 at the side edges thereof to overlap the guide tracks or posts and form a Weather-tight engagement therewith, the weather strips 33 extending from the upper edge 19 of the door section 17 a distance substantially corresponding to the height of the door section 8. Weather strips 35 are suitably secured to the guide tracks 25 and 26 or posts by suitable fastening devices 36 and extend therefrom in overlying relation with the inner face of the sides of the door section 17, said Weather strips 35 extending upwardly from the floor 6 to a point where the upper edges 37 thereof will abut against the lower edges of the weather strips 33 when the door sections are in doorway closing position as illustrated in Fig. 1.

The door sections are provided with an operating structure 38 to substantially counter-balance the weight of the doors and facilitate moving the door sections toopen and close the doorway. For ease in installation, the principal portion of the operating structure 38 is carried on a structural member 39 such as an angle iron that is se- 7 cured to the upper portion of the bar 11 by suitable fastening devices 40 wherein one leg 41 of the angle iron overlies the upper or top edge of the bar 11 and the other leg 42 is engaged with the face 15 of said bar 11. The angle iron 39 extends from a point slightly beyond the side edge of the door sections adjacent the post 4 to a position beyond the center of the doorway opening as illustrated in Fig. 2, and at the end adjacent the post 4 an angle-shaped bracket 43 is secured thereto with a leg 44 positioned in a recessed portion of the bar 11 next to the header and a leg 45 extending from the bar 11 into the interior of the structure 1 with the end portion of the leg 45 suitably connected to a brace 46 that has the other end thereof secured as by a fastening device 47 to the leg 42 of the angle member 39. The brace 46 and angle bracket leg '45 have aligned apertures therein for an anchor member 48 in the form of an eyebolt that is adjustable in the bracket for adjusting the tension on a spring 49 as later described. The bracket 43 is of a width and so positioned whereby a portion thereof extends upwardly above the bar 11 to cooperate with an angle member 50 secured to the angle iron 39 to provide an upstanding flange for supporting a pin 51 carrying a grooved roller 52 over which a flexible member such as 4 a rope 53 operates and is guided. The flexible member or rope extends downwardly from the roller or pulley 52 along the side edge of the door sections and is suitably connected to the door section 17 preferably at the mounting of the roller 30 thereon. The other end of the rope 53 extends over a roller or pulley 55 rotatably mounted in suitable bracket members 56 and 57 secured to the opposite end of the bar 11 whereby the rope is guided downwardly alongside of the side edge of the door sections and is suitably connected to the door section 17 adjacent the guide track 25 and preferably as at 58 at the mounting of the roller 30 thereon. The intermediate portion of the rope 53 extends as at 59 between spaced grooved rollers '60 and 61 carried on pins 62 and 63 respectively that have ends mounted in plates 64 secured to the leg 41 of the angle member 39 and other ends in an elongated plate member 65 that has downturned ends 66 suitably secured to the leg 41 whereby the plate portion 65 is spaced from the leg 41 of the angle member 39 as illustrated in Fig. 7. The intermediate portion of the rope 53 extends from the rollers 60 and 61 around a roller 67 carried by a lever 68 and then around a post 69 having ends supported by the angle member 39 and the plate 65, the intermediate portion of the rope 53 extending from the post 69 and defining a loop 70 con-.

nected with a fastening device 71 that is adjustable relative to the plate 65. In the illustrated structure, the loop 70 is engaged with a hook 72 at one end of the fastening device 71 with a hook 73 at the other end thereof extending through one of a series of apertures 74 spaced along the bar 65 between the post 69 and the end of the bar toward the side post 4 of the structure.

The lever 68 has one end pivotally connected as at 75 to the angle member 39 between the pulleys 60 and 61 and the bracket 43 with the pulley 67 carried by cars 76 adjacent the other end of the lever 68. The spring 49 has one end connected to the adjustable anchor 48 and the other end connected to a finger 77 adjustable along the length of the lever 68. In the illustrated structure, the finger 77 has a threaded shank 78 which extends through a boss 79 suitably fixed to the lever 68 intermediate the ends thereof with a nut 80 on the threaded shank 78 to adjust the position of the finger 77. The end of the lever 68 has an aperture 81 adjacent the end thereof for. receiving one end of a turnbuckle structure 82, the other end of which is adapted to be positioned in an aperture 83 in the bar 65 as illustrated in Fig. 3 to hold the lever 68 while the rope 53 is adjusted to eliminate any looseness therein when the door sections are in closed position and the operating structure positioned as shown in Fig. 3 Then the turnbuckle structure 82 is removed and the spring tension of the spring 49 adjusted to obtain the desired action during opening and closing of the door structure. The spring 49 is positioned relative to the lever 68 whereby the spring is extended when the door sections are in doorway closing position and the action line of the spring force close to the pivotal mounting of the lever. As the door sections are raised the spring tension decreases, but the action line of the spring force moves away from the pivotal mounting of the lever 68 whereby the moment of force applied thereby to the rope 53 is increased and is sufiicient to retain the door sections in raised or open position until said door sections are pulled downwardly toward closing position.

In operating a door structure constructed and assembled as illustrated and described, and assuming the door sections are in doorway closing position, pressure is applied to the door sections adjacent the hinges 20 to urge the hinged connected portions of the doorway sections 8 and 17 inwardly relative to the doorway opening. After small inward movement of the adjacent edges of the doorway sections, the spring tension 49, preferably adjusted to substantially counter-balance the weight of the door sections, applies a lifting force through the rope 53 that is substantially equal on bothsides of the door section 17 nearest;

and also substantially axially of the rollers 30 to give a uniform lifting force so that a very small additional lifting force by the user is required to continue opening moveinent of the door sections. As the door sections fold up wardly, the lever arm 68 swings on the pivot mounting 75 and while the tension applied by the spring 49 gradually is reduced, the angle of the spring relative to the pivot 75 is changed to increase the effective lever arm on which the spring force is applied and increase the lifting force or moment applied to the ropes 53 whereby the spring tension will hold the door sections in raised or folded position as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. When it is desired to close the doors downward force is applied to the lower portion of the door section 17 to pull the door sections downwardly until the bottom of the door sectin 17 approaches the floor 6 at which time force is applied by the user to the doors adjacent the edges connected by the hinges 20 to move same outwardly relative to the doorway opening and position the door sections in the same plane and in alignment with the tracks 25 and 26 wherein the springtension acting through the ropes 53 no longer applies any folding force to the door sections.

In the form of the invention illustrated in Fig. 11, the doorway side posts 3 and 4, header 5 and door sections 8 and 17 and mounting thereof are substantially the same as shown and described relative to the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive. A modified form of operating structure is utilized, one side only being illustrated in Fig. 11 as the other side is substantially identical in structure. In this structure, ropes 85 have one end suitably secured to the lower door section as illustrated and described relative to the connection of the rope 53 with the door section 17. The upper ends of the ropes 85 are suitably secured as at 86 at the large end of a tapered or cone-shaped grooved pulley 87 fixed on and adjacent the ends of a shaft 88 that extends longitudinally of the bar 11 and preferably spaced thereabove. The ends of the shaft 88 are rotatably mounted in bearing members 89 suitably secured to the door frame structure. A coil spring 90 has one end secured to a bracket 91 on the header, said coil spring being sleeved on the shaft 88 with its other end secured as at 92 to said shaft in spaced relation to the bracket 91, with the coils of the spring woundon the shaft to have suitable tension tending to rotate the shaft 88 and apply a lifting force to the rope 85 to substantially counter-balance the weight of the door sections, the pulley 87 being tapered and in effect has a longer lever between the shaft and the rope 85 in the initial raising operation of the door when the spring 90 is applying its greatest force. As the force applied by the spring is reduced in raising the door sections, the rope 85 is wound on the groove pulley 87 with the progressive smaller diameter thereof reducing the length of the lever arm between the shaft and the rope 85 to increase the pull applied by the spring through the rope 85 to the door sections as the door sections are raised and the spring tension reduced.

It is believed obvious that I have provided an improved door and operating structure therefor that is economical to manufacture, easily installed and adjusted to maintain ease and efficiency in operation.

It is to be understood that while I have illustrated and described certain forms of my invention, it is not to be limited to the specific forms or arrangement of parts herein described and shown except insofar as such limitations are included in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. An overhead door structure comprising, a frame having spaced door posts, a sill and a header defining a doorway opening, a door in the doorway opening and movable to open and close-same, guide tracks on the door posts for defining the pathof movement of the door as said door is moved to open and closed positions, guide means carried by the door and movable in the guide tracks for guiding the door during opening and closing movement of said door, a lever, means pivotally mount ing one end of said lever on the header for swinging movement toward and away from said header, spring means having one end anchored relative to the door header and the other end connected to the lever in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting thereof whereby the moment of force applied by the spring to the lever increases as the spring force decreases, flexible members having ends secured to opposite sides of the door, means anchoring the other ends of the flexible members relative the header, and means on the other end portion of the lever and having movable engagement with the flexible members between the anchoring means for said other ends and the ends secured to the door whereby the force applied to the lever by the spring is opposite that applied by the flexible members and the raising pull on the door increases as the door is moved to opened position.

2. An overhead door structure comprising, a frame having spaced door posts, a sill and a header defining a doorway opening, a sectional door in the doorway opening and having an upper and a lower door section, means securing the upper door section relative the header for upward swinging movement of said upper door section, means securing the lower door section to the upper door section for relative swinging movement thereof whereby said door sections are foldable with the lower door section underlying the upper section when in doorway open position, vertical channel shaped guide tracks on the door posts alongside the door sections when in doorway closing position, said channel shaped guide tracksopening toward the door sections, guide means carried by the lower door section and movable in the guide tracks for guiding the lower door section during opening and closing movement of said door sections, a lever, means pivotally mounting one end of said lever on the header for swinging move ment toward and away from said header, spring means having one end anchored relative to the door header and the other end connected to the lever in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting thereof whereby the moment of force applied by the spring to the lever increases as the spnng force decreases, flexible members having ends secured to opposite sides of the lower door section adjacent the guide means thereon, means anchoring the other ends of the flexible members relative the header, and means on the other end portion of said lever and having movableengagement with the flexible members between the anchoring means for said other ends and the ends secured to the lower door section whereby the force applied to the lever by the spring is opposite that applied by the flexible members and the raising pull on the door sections increases as the doors are moved to folded position. 7

3. An overhead door structure comprising, a frame having spaced door posts, a sill and a header defining a doorway opening, a sectional door in the doorway opening and having an upper and a lower door section, the upper door section being hinged at its upper edge to the header for upward swinging movement of said upper door section, means securing the lower door section to the upper door section for relative swinging movement thereof whereby said door sections are foldable with the lower door section underlying the upper section when in doorway open position, vertical channel shaped guide tracks on the door posts alongside the door sections when in doorway closing position, said channel shaped guide tracks opening toward the door sections, guide means carried by the lower door section and movable in the guide tracks for guiding the lower door section during opening and closing movement of said door section, said guide means being spaced from the upper edge of the lower door section a distance slightly greater than the height of the upper door section, strips secured to the door sections adjacent the edges thereof in overlying engagement with the door posts to form a weather seal therebetween, a lever, means pivotally mounting one end of said lever on the header above the door for swinging movement in a horizontal plane toward and away from said header, a coil spring, means connected to one end of said coil spring and adjustably mounted relative to the door header, means adjustably connecting the other end of the coil spring to the lever in spaced relation to the pivotal mounting thereof whereby the moment of force applied by the spring to the lever increases as the spring force decreases, a flexible line having ends secured to opposite sides of the lower door section adjacent the guide means thereon and extending upwardly therefrom, guides engaging the flexible line to define the path of movement thereof, means adjustably anchoring the intermediate portion of the flexible line relative the header, and means on the other end portion of said lever and having movable engagement with the flexible line between said anchoring means for said intermediate portion and the ends secured to the lower door section whereby the force applied to the lever by the spring is opposite that applied by the flexible line and the raising pull on the door sections increases as the doors are moved to folded position.

4. An overhead door structure comprising, a frame having spaced side posts, a sill and a header defining a doorway opening, a sectional door in the doorway opening and having an upper and a lower door section, said lower section being greater in height than the upper door section, the upper door section being hinged at its upper edge to said header for upward swinging movement of said upper door section, means securing the lower door section to the upper door section for relative swinging movement thereof whereby the door sections are foldable with the lower door section underlying the upper door section, elongate guides fixed relative the side posts and extending substantially vertically adjacent side edges of the door sections when in doorway closing position, guide members carried by the lower door section and movable in the guides, elongate flexible lines having portions secured to the lower door section and extending upwardly alongside the door sections when in closed position, means anchoring the other ends of the flexible lines to said header, a coil spring having one end anchored relative to the header, and a lever having one end pivotally mounted on the header in spaced relation to the anchored end of said coil spring, said lever having connection with the other end of the coil spring in spaced relation to the pivotal axis of said lever and with the flexible lines intermediate the ends thereof whereby the spring applies a force to said lever tending to pivot same to transmit equal lifting forces through the flexible'lines to both sides of the lower door section and pivotal movement of said lever alters the forces on said lever to increase the lifting force applied to the door section through the flexible lines as the spring force applied to said lever is decreased.

5. An overhead door structure comprising, a frame having spaced side posts, a sill and a header defining a doorway opening, a sectional door in the doorway opening and having an upper and a lower door section, said lower door section being greater in height than the upper door sections, means securing the upper door section relative to the header for upward swinging movement of said upper door section, means securing the lower door section to the upper door section for relative swinging movement thereof whereby the door sections are foldable with the lower door section underlying the upper door section, elongate guides fixed relative the side posts and extending substantially vertically adjacent side edges of the door sections when in doorway closing position, guide members carried by the lower door section and movable in the guides, said guide members being spaced from the upper edge of the lower door section whereby the guide members are in the guides when the door sections are folded in substantial parallel relation in doorway open position, an elongate flexible line having opposite end portions secured to opposite sides of the lower door section adjacent the guide means thereon and extending upwardly alongside the door sections when in closed position, means adjustably connected to the header and having moving engagement with said flexible line intermediate the end portions thereof to position said intermediate portion of the flexible line relative to said header, a coil spring having one end anchored relative to the header, a lever having one end pivotaily mounted on the header in spaced relation to the anchored end of the coil spring, said lever having connection with the other end of the coil spring, and means on the other end of the lever movably engaging the flexible line between the end portions and intermediate positioning means whereby the spring applies a force to said lever tending to pivot same to transmit equal lifting forces through the flexible line to both sides of the lower door section and pivotal movement of said lever alters the forces on said lever to increase the lifting force applied to the door section through the flexible line as the spring force applied to said lever is decreased.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,804,329 Farr May 5, 1931 1,926,671 Ferris Sept. 12, 1933 2,041,221 Brunst May 19, 1936 2,121,395 Cooper June 21, 1938 2,573,181 Burr Oct. 30, 1951 2,722,273 Taylor Nov. 1, 1955 

